Centrifugal separator and amalgamator.



D. B. CAVE.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 18, 1912.

' Patented Feb.18,1913.

upon the main shaft 5, and the mouth of the feed hopper T delivers the material onto this inner pan around its hub or flange 45.

In practice mercury to the required amount is poured into the pans. and when these are revolved at the proper rate of speed centrifugal action causes the. mercury to tlow outvard over their bottoms against their rims 3U where it torms a substantially upright wall. The slime which is to he treated is t'ed into it through the hopper T by means not necessary to illustrate, and falls into the smaller pan which is rotating at a given speed; the centrifugal action causes it to fiow outward over the body of the pan and accumulate under its rim. passing meanwhile through the notches 39 in the battle After the material has accmnulated to a sutticient extent it will flow over the upper edge of the rim and. passing under the inturned upper edge of the spillway 41 in the next pan'to aid the periphery. it will flow down the inner vt'ace of said spillway, under its lower edge and througlrits notches. where the operation for this pan is repated like that for the first. During this movement of the slime. the'previous metals are brought into direct contact with the mercury and amalgamation is 'rroduced. the values being retained while the haser materials are permitted to How over the spillway and are tinally carried to thed|unp.or waste. The reason why this pan is rotated ata slower speed than the innermost will now be apparent, for it' all the pans were mounted rigidly on the shaft they wouldrevolve around it in the same period of time and any point in the rim of a larger pan would have to more more rapidly than it would in a smaller pan in order tomakethe complete circuit. around the shaft. and therefore the centrifugal action in the larger pan would be greater. With the construction shown and described. as the material overflows the rim of a smaller pan and drops onto the body of the next larger pan, it is subjected to the same centrifugal action and to practically the same centrifugal force. and the separating action is repeated in the manner just described. So also, after the material passes out of the second pan into the third, and thence on into the fourth and tl'n'oughout the series it more pans than shown he employed; and finally the 'aste products flow over from the outermost pan and are trapped under the inturned edge 50 ot' the receptacle 8, wherein they gather on the bottom 9 thereof and flow out through the outlet 10. From time to time the precious metals are removed by means t'orming no part of the present invention.

The parts of this machine are of the desired sizes, shapes,proportions. and materials: and changes in details may he made without departing from the principle of the invention.

What is claimed as new is 1.. in a centrifugal separator, the combination with a series of circular pans disposed one above and overlapping another and decrtaising in size toward the top of the series. means tor supplying material to the snaillcst pan, and means for conducting the waste products from the largest pan; of mechanism tor rotating the pans independently at such speeds that the inner pan will complete a rotation in less time than any other.

in a centrifugal separator. the combination with a series of pans disposed one above and overlapping anotheand decreasing in size toward the top of the series. means for supplying material to the smallest products from the largest pan: of mechanisni tor rotating the series so that the peripheries of all the pans move at the same speed.

'3. in a centrifugal separator. the combination with a series o't' concentric circular pans disposed one above and overlapping another and decreasing in size toward the top of the series. means for supplying material to the smallest pan. and means for conducting the waste products from the largest pan: of an upright shaft on which the smallest pan is mounted. a series of nested tubes around said shaft. spiders indeptmdentlv secured to the upper ends of said tubes and each carrying a pan. and mechanism for rotating the shaft and the various tubes so that the peripheries of all the pans will move at the same speed.

:L/ln a centrifugal separator. the combination with a series of concentric circular pans disposed one above and overlapping another and decreasing in size toward the top of terial to the smallest pan. and means for conducting the waste products from the largest pan; of an upright. shaft on which ed tubes around said shatt, spiders independently secured to the upper ends of said tubes and each carrying a pan, a series of pinions secured respectively to the lower ends of said tubes, and a series of driving gears respectively connected with said pinions. the wheels in one of said series in creasing in size from one end of the series to the other wherelvy the peripheries of all speed.

in a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of concentric circular pans disposed on above and over lapping another and dccreasingjn size toward the top ot' the series. means for supplying u'iaterial to the uppermost pan and pan. and means t'or conducting the waste the series. means for supplying ma-' the smallestpan is mounted. a series of nest-' the pans are caused to more. atthe same removing the Waste products from the series, and means in each pan for extracting the precious metals; of mechanism for rotating the pans indepemlently at ditt'crent speeds and in the same direction.

.6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of circular pans disposed one above and overlapping another and decreasing in size toward the top of the series, means for supplying ma terial to the uppermost pan and removing the waste products from the series, and means in each pan for extracting the precious metals; of mechanism for rotating the pans independently at such speeds that the inner pan will complete a rotation in lUS'x' time than any other.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of circular pans disposed one above and overlapping another and decreasing in size toward the top of the series, means for stmplying material to the uppermost pan and removing the waste products from the series, amt means in each pan for extracting the pie cious metals; of mechanism for rotating the series so that the peripheries of all the pans move at the same speed.

8. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with a plurality of concentric circular pans disposed one above and overlapping the other and the uppermost being of smaller diameter, each pan having a rim rising from its body and bent inward; of means for supplying material to the smallest pan, and mechanism for rotating the pans so that .their peripheries shall move at approximately the same speed.

9. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with a plurality of circular pans disposed one above and overlapping the other and the uppermost being of smaller diamcter, each pan having a rim rising from its body and bent inward, and in each pan a shield rising from its body and bent inward over the rim of the next smaller pan and constituting a spillway; of means for supplying material 'to the smallest pan, and meclun'iisn'i l or rotating the pans so that their peripheries shall move atapproximately the same speed.

10. in a machine ol the class described, the combination with a series of paris disposed one above and overlapping the other and the uppermost being of smaller diameter, each pan having a rim rising from its body and bent inward. and in each pan ashield rising from its body and bent inward over the rim of the next smaller pan and constituting a spillway and an annular member in each pan having its lower edge notched and thc interposed lingers between said notches resting on the body of the pan;

of means for supplying material to the smallest pan, and mechanism l'or rotating the pans so that their peripheries shall move at approximately the same speed.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of concentric annular pans disposed one above and overlapping the other and the uppermost being ol' smaller diameter, each pan having a shield rising 'fl'Ulll its body and bent. inward over the rim of the next smaller pan and constituting a spillway, and an obliquely disposed annular member in each pan, said shield and member having their lower edges notched and the interposed lingers between said notches resting on the body of the pan; of means For supplying material to the smallest pan, and mechanism for rotating the pans so that their peripheries shall move at approximately the same speed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in prcscnccot' two subscribing witncsscs.

DANIEL B. CAVE. \Vi t nesses: 

